Marlborough and Coromandel Covenants • Rare Species: Kiwi · 2018. 4. 2. · of Te Runanga O Kaikoura, leaders of Rangitane, and representatives of the Marlborough District Council,

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M A G A Z I N E O F T H E Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H I I N A T I O N A L T R U S T

™

No.63, March 2005

Marlborough and Coromandel Covenants • Rare Species: Kiwi

2 MAGAZINE OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II NATIONAL TRUST – ISSUE 63, MARCH 2005

Helping you protect the special nature of your land

Contents Focus on: Marlborough 4-6

Managing a farm landscape 8

Focus on: Coromandel 10-12

A QEII property to visit 13

Freshwater Invertebrates 14-15

Rare Species: Kiwi 16-18

Archaeological sites 19

Flammability of native plants 20-21

Trust people 22

Regional Representatives 23

Distribution of QEII covenants 28

‘Open Space™’ is published by the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, P O Box 3341, Wellington, New ZealandSt. Laurence House, Level 4, 138 The Terrace, Wellington.

Telephone: 04 472 6626 Fax: 04 472 5578

Freephone: 0508 (QE2TRUST) 732 878

E-mail: [email protected] www.qe2.org.nz

Regional RepresentativesFar North Greg Blunden Tel: 09 407 5243Northland Nan Pullman Tel/Fax: 09 434 3457Northwest Auckland Rodney Straka Tel: 09 420 4082Auckland Rex Smith Tel: 09 622 2303Coromandel/Hauraki Hamish Kendal Tel: 07 866 0770Waikato Hamish Dean Tel: 021 741 222Waitomo/Otorohanga Malcolm Mackenzie Tel: 07 873 7728Bay of Plenty/Taupo Stephen Hall Tel: 07 544 1227Gisborne Malcolm Piper Tel/Fax: 06 867 0255Hawke’s Bay Marie Taylor Tel: 06 836 7018Taranaki Neil Phillips Tel: 06 762 2773Wanganui Rachel Stewart Tel: 06 342 4798Manawatu Peter van Essen Tel: 06 355 9076Wairarapa David Marsh Tel: 06 372 7750Wellington Tim Park Tel: 04 472 6626Nelson/Marlborough Philip Lissaman Tel: 03 540 3442Canterbury Miles Giller Tel/Fax: 03 313 5315West Coast Ian James Tel/Fax: 03 753 4017Coastal Otago Rebecca Reid Tel: 03 482 2304South Island High Country Dr Brian Molloy Tel: 03 348 1077Waiau Catchment Mark Sutton Tel: 03 215 9117Southland Gay Munro Tel: 03 239 5827 www.converge.org.nz/ntsth

Aroha Island Ecological Centre Tel: 09 407 5243

QEII helps landowners protect significant natural and cultural features on their land.

Features protected include:

• Landscapes • Forests and/or bush remnants

• Wetlands • Tussock grasslands

• Cultural sites • Streams

• Coastlines • Geological features

• Archaeological sites • Wildlife habitats

Landowners throughout the country have voluntarily protected some 70,000 hectares of their land through QEII covenants (or protection agreements). The Trust also helps by contributing funds for covenant projects and advising landowners on managing their covenants. For more information see page 27.

QEII also owns 29 properties which collectively protect over 1,500 hectares of significant habitat. These have mostly been gifted to the Trust. Effective stewardship of these properties is greatly assisted by local communities and management committees.

The Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII) is a statutory organisation independent from Government and managed by a Board of Directors.

Board of DirectorsChairperson, Sir Brian Lochore, MastertonDeputy Chairperson, Bill Garland, CambridgeDr Sue Bennett, Te AnauGeoff Walls, ChristchurchLorraine Stephenson, DannevirkeYvonne Sharp, Kerikeri

Chief Executive, Margaret McKee Tel: 04 472 6626, E-mail: [email protected]

Cover Photo: At Nick’s Head Station near Gisborne, fencing takes in an entire gully to protect water and soil values as well as the small and rare bush remnant at its head. The fenced gully, in turn, feeds into the foreground wetland, which is also being enhanced.Photo: Margaret McKee

MAGAZINE OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II NATIONAL TRUST – ISSUE 63, MARCH 2005 3

Co-operative managementAt a ceremony in November a

unique covenant was dedicated to the combined care of six parties.

Landowners Sally and Rob Peter of Cape Campbell Farms Ltd., leaders of Te Runanga O Kaikoura, leaders of Rangitane, and representatives of the Marlborough District Council, New Zealand Historic Places Trust and QEII

Joseph and Jimmy Peter hold the taonga gifted to the Peter family by the two iwi. Behind, left-right: Mark Solomon of Ngai Tahu, Margaret McKee QEII Chief Executive, Rob Peter, Sally Peter, Judith MacDonald of Rangitane, Rangitane elder Jim MacDonald, Marlborough District Councilor John Craighead.

National Trust were all signatories to the Mussell Point Protection and Management Plan.

The covenant, near Cape Campbell, protects nationally rare plants. The site is also of national historic significance, being one of the few recorded sites where there is evidence of all three main phases of Maori occupation.

Representatives of Te Runanga O Kaikoura and Rangitane presented the Peter family with a specially carved taonga, “Te Rae o Karaka”. Made from locally-sourced whalebone, totara and an ancient adze, it symbolises the coming together of the land, the tangata whenua and the current landowners.

Karaka treeland at Cape Turnagain Brian Lochore(left) discusses protection of remnant bush at Tautane Station, Cape Turnagain, Herbertville with (left to right) supervisors Robert Herrick and Edward Elworthy, and farm manager Kelvin Sadler. The karaka treeland remnant is now very rare in Hawke’s Bay. Nearly 50ha of remnant lowland hardwood/podocarp forest is already covenanted elsewhere on the farm.Ph

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Focus on: MarlboroughMarlborough’s extraordinary biodiversity has prompted Marlborough District Council to conduct a significant natural areas (SNAs) survey of the region.

QEII director and ecologist Geoff Walls with respected botanist Philip Simpson have nearly completed the survey and assessment. The project is overseen by a working group which comprises councillors, council officers, two landowner representatives, Federated Farmers, and QEII rep for Marlborough / Nelson, Philip Lissaman.

Philip says the council has been exemplary in its approach. “Both the assessment work and landowner consultation has been thorough and meticulous,” he says. Permission to conduct the survey was sought first from each landowner, who were then contacted by independent consultants to discuss the results confidentially and consider ways to manage the identified SNAs. Options for management include council help with fencing and applications for biodiversity condition funding and, of course, long-term protection through QEII covenants.

Since the process started in 2001, nine covenants have been approved and are progressing towards registration. They will protect an additional 370ha to the 900ha already protected by QEII covenants in Marlborough. Interestingly, several landowners have requested whole-farm ecological management plans.

Mar lborough has an ex t raordinary wea l th o f biodiversity due to its complex geology and climatic extremes. For instance, the usual number of native plant species found on a forest site nationally may be 100 or even less, but in some lowland hill country sites in south Marlborough it can be as high as 250. Marlborough also has a number of plant and animal species that are unique to the region of which some, due to their limited range, are threatened.

QEII directors and representatives of Marlborough District Council experience the unique Marlborough coastal environment


Healing the Wither Hills

Dryland forest on the Wither Hills

Fire ravaged the Sutherland Stream covenant in 2001.Revegetation is now well under way through community planting and natural regeneration of native species.

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Native vegetation is making a comeback at Sutherland Stream on the Wither Hills near Blenheim after fire decimated former kanuka forest five years ago (see Open Space # 51).

Rehabilitation of the Marlborough District Council-owned 42ha covenant has focused on controlling broom and gorse and establishing islands of eco-sourced plants to provide seed for natural regeneration.

Council Reserves and Amenities Officer Robin Dunn says there has been tremendous community effort, with more than

5000 seedlings planted by Blenheim Rotary Club. He also acknowledges the voluntary input of local horticulturalist and environmentalist, Susan King. “Susan has done a wonderful job of co-ordinating the recovery work and monitoring results.”

Natural regeneration is occurring, despite the dry environment, confirming Susan’s recommendation not to graze the upper portion and to control broom and gorse by selective spraying. Her monitoring has also confirmed that the nationally endangered sedge, Carex inopinata, survived the fire.

Fiona Balfour pictured above the covenanted kanuka forest regenerating on the dry slopes of the family’s Withers Hill farm.

At the seaward end of the Wither Hills the Balfour family have covenanted one of the few remaining extensive areas of native dryland forest that once covered Marlborough’s coastal hills.

Orchid habitatAt first glance Patricia and son Michael Smith’s

wetland covenant at Linkwater, at the head of Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sounds, looks nothing special. Closer inspection, however, especially in January or February, shows the bright pink spiralled flower heads of the “Ladies Tresses” orchid, Spiranthes novae-zelandiae.

Nurtured by a constant supply of nutrient-rich spring water, this evergreen orchid, endemic to

“Ladies Tressess” orchid, Spiranthes novae-zelandiae,

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New Zealand, occurs in localised marshy habitats throughout New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands. It is self-pollinating and se l f - fe r t i l i s ing but is dependent on a relatively open habitat, so Michael controls competing growth with limited grazing outside of the flowering and seed-setting season.

The 171ha covenant overlooking Cloudy Bay is unexpectedly diverse due to a range of micro-climates. Kanuka forest has regenerated on the steep north-facing slopes and spurs where it’s extremely dry. Down in the deep gullies, however, where it’s moister and more sheltered, species typical of higher rainfall areas occur, including titoki, puka, climbing rata and mamaku. The bluff communities are also of interest ranging from ferns on the moister sites to NZ lilac Heliohebe haulkeana on drier sites.


Marlborough Sounds haven

The Plaisiers, who covenanted 37ha of primary and secondary coastal hardwood forest in 1998, have focussed on pest control, including possums, rats, stoats and pigs. QEII director and ecologist Geoff Walls visited recently while conducting the Marlborough District Council’s significant natural areas survey. He greatly admires the Plaisiers’ efforts and says the forest is flourishing.

Brian and Ellen run an accommodation business and offer guided walks to show visitors their conservation work. Brian says, “People love the isolation here. They’re really interested in what we’re doing and seeing the birds that are coming back.”

For more information see: www.ontopofthesounds.co.nz

Ellen and Brian Plaisier with their children at Tui Nature Reserve, overlooking the Outer Pelorus Sound.

Ellen and Brian Plaisier’s remote Tui Nature Reserve on a headland in the Outer Pelorus Sound can be reached only by boat.

Its isolation is a big plus for their ambitious conservation objectives. Together with their two neighbours, they plan to make the entire headland pest-free and eventually reintroduce such vulnerable species as little spotted kiwi, saddlebacks and burrowing seabirds.

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The red rock daisy, Pachystegia rufa.

A biodiversity hotspotCharles Waddy manages 75% of the world’s

wild Marlborough red rock daisy population within his 138ha south Marlborough covenant. First described in 1987 by QEII high country rep Brian Molloy, Pachystegia rufa is classified as ‘Range Restricted’ in the latest list of threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand.

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The daisy is confined to the Haldon Hills where it is a striking shrub of rugged rock outcrops, bluffs and stony river banks.

Charles, who is highly committed to enhancing the rare plant’s habitat, has put much effort into clearing wilding pines. “I would like help with the last six,” he says, “as someone will have to abseil to reach them.”

The power of regeneration

“Foreign Invaders; Storm Brewing III”. Concern about the spread of wilding pines in the Marlborough Sounds prompted Ian, a well-known painter, to depict the problem in his ‘Foreign Invader’ series.

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Kate Betteley and Ian Hamlin are helping their 16ha covenant, Hou Ngahere, recover from a long history of marginal farming and burning. Kanuka forest has regenerated over most of the Keneperu Sound site and one small remnant of primary tawa – titoki forest has survived.

“It’s unusual to find such a remnant on a sunny, north-facing site like this,” says QEII rep Philip Lissaman. “It’s not pristine but it’s a great seed source for the next successional phase.”

Succession is now seeing rimu, matai and kahikatea starting to emerge through the kanuka canopy while a new generation of tawa, titoki, nikau and rewarewa seedlings are developing within the remnant.


Restoring the Balance – a biodiversity self-help kit

Need help with identifying native plants?

The nationally endangered heart-leaved kohuhu, Pittosporum obcordatum, attracts field day visitors at James Hunter’s property (see page 9). The species occurs in eastern lowland alluvial forest, favouring

sites prone to summer drought.

www.nzpcn.org.nz, the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network website is the place to go.

You can find photographs, descriptions, habitat requirements and propagation techniques on the website for a growing list of native flora, including vascular plants, fungi, mosses, lichens and liverworts.

Lists of New Zealand’s threatened plants can be downloaded. A plant conservation information system is also being set up. It includes a simple recording system for people to send in their sightings of threatened plants.

The website is still being developed but the information and image library is already extensive. NZPCN was established in 2003 with the aim of halting the decline in indigenous plant life and raising awareness of New Zealand’s plant diversity.

25th New Zealand Native Forest Restoration Trust covenant

NZNFRT recently celebrated the opening of Omoana Bush in South Taranaki. It is their 25th property - and the first in Taranaki - and all are protected with QEII open space covenants.

The 333ha covenant protects lowland secondary rewarewa-pukatea-manuka forest in the upper catchment and tributaries of the Patea River (see OS #62, p. 6 also).

For more information visit www.nznfrt.org.nz.

Celebrating the opening of Omoana Bush, left to right: Tim Oliver of NZNFRT; Mary Bourke, Mayor South Taranaki District Council; Margaret McKee QEII CEO; and Brian Davis Chairperson NZNFRT.

“What do I do first?” and “Who can help me?” are two questions Northland landowners will no longer need to ask

now they have a free biodiversity self-help kit.

The kit, Restoring the Balance, is designed to help people get started managing and improving biodiversity on their land.

While it provides information on identifying biodiversity values, how to deal with pests, weeds and planting trees, it also includes

contact information on organisations and businesses who can help further. Inside the folder is a recommended action plan for projects and forms for recording data that may be invaluable for funding applications.

The project was initiated by the Northland Biodiversity Enhancement Group, which comprises agency representatives involved in promoting protection of biodiversity on private land. It includes farmers, farm foresters, local and regional councils, Fish and Game, DOC, QEII National Trust and the NZ Landcare Trust.

For more information contact Northland QEII rep Nan Pullman on 09 4343 457.

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Managing a farm landscape

The covenant takes in all of the hill country pictured, which forms the headland. Within that landscape areas with special natural values are being fenced off for specific management.

An iconic headland, a pastoral landscape, rare bush remnants, archaeological sites and bird habitat - these are all being protected and enhanced within a single QEII covenant at Nicks Head Station, south of Gisborne.

The 147ha covenant takes in the hills of the well-known landmark, Young Nick’s Head, at the northern end of the 660ha property. While sheep and cattle farming continues within the covenant, rare areas of remnant bush are being progressively fenced off.

Farm manager Kim Dodgshun has taken his cue from natural landform and drainage patterns when preparing and implementing his landscape development plan. “It’s more than simply fencing in a bit of bush at the top of a gully,” he says. “We can manage soil and water values far better by fencing off and revegetating the whole gully.”

Owner John Griffin is not only enthusiastic but committed to the enhancement programme which has seen 40,000 native trees go in the ground over the last two years, with more planned for next winter.

Farm manager Kim Dodgshun checks out one of the fenced gullies where remnant bush is being extended with revegetation planting.

(See cover photo also.)

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James Hunter points out features of the 10ha Carex secta wetland and pond system, which has been approved for a QEII covenant. Fencing off the wetland will improve the quality of water which it feeds to the Huatokitoki Stream.

Nearly all the bush remnants, riparian areas and wetlands have been protected on the award winning Porangahau farm, Rangitoto.

Central Hawke’s Bay farmer James Hunter, a QEII covenantor, recently won the Hawke’s Bay Farm Forester of the Year award.

Massive soil conservation plantings, 41ha of bush and riparian protection, and wetland enhancement work impressed Judges Alec Olsen and Kevin Thomsen. Alec, also a Hawke’s Bay covenantor and now a Hawke’s Bay regional councillor, says “What James Hunter has done is just about what any farmer in Hawke’s Bay could copy, and have a much better farm for it. It is not rocket science, but it is a great model, planned and executed well.”

A field day in early November attracted more than 170 people from throughout Hawke’s Bay to the property. Hawke’s Bay Farm Forestry Association president Malcolm O’Dwyer says James is showing the way to farm long term on an area long known for unstable soils and frequent coastal storms. “Lessons here can go to all farms and farmers in New Zealand.”

James says the conservation and protection work tied in with subdivision on the 660ha farm. “We knew if we increased the grazing pressure we would destroy what was there.”

The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has been a key part of the protection work on the property, helping throughout with soil conservation plantings, then helping fund the riparian and bush protection work. Now it helps with possum control and, in a new trial on the McLean covenant further down the Huatokitoki catchment, has carried out rat control. It’s also helping clear

Pro-active approach wins award

Facing page: Visitors at the field day take a look at the one of numerous covenanted areas of riparian forest and wetland remnants on the Hunter farm, which total some 33ha.

willows in the catchment. James says the work wouldn’t have

happened without the Regional Council or QEII Trust. “And it’s an important

aspect of protection because it ensures that in my absence the bush remains protected, and there’s no potential for rule changes.”

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Focus on: CoromandelThe Coromandel Peninsula is well known for its spectacular scenery: - its craggy peaks of ancient, long-eroded volcanic cones, its lush rainforest and its intricate coastline.

Over the past 150 years, much of the former dense native forest cover has been cleared or substantially modified for timber, farming and gold mining. More recently, demand for development in coastal areas has grown as more people seek to enjoy the peninsula’s wealth of natural and historic features.

QEII is helping many landowners – farmers, conservationists, tourist operators and developers – to protect the Coromandel’s rich heritage. Nearly 3,000 hectares are protected under 68 QEII open space covenants, and a further 19 approved covenants will protect another 430 hectares when they are registered.

Goodbye pets, hello wildlife

House - but no garden. Jude and Tim’s forest hideaway, often in the cloud layer at its 400m altitude, embraces a tall rata.

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A t iny Hochste t ter ’s f rog discovered at Cynthia and Kevin Jackson’s lot. They gave their dog away to friends for the “privilege

of being out here.”

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Pet restrict ions within a Coromandel ‘eco-subdivision’ have been no deterrent to buyers. Most of the 24 lots within the 560ha covenanted Mahakirau Forest Estate in the Coromandel Range have sold to buyers keen to holiday and live in an outstanding protected natural area, and keep it that way (see Open Space #46, Dec 1999).

QEII rep, Hamish Kendal, says adherence to the subdivision conditions is good. House sites have been developed with minimum disturbance, as required by the convenants, and owners are complying with the bans on pets and pest plants. “The conditions of the subdivision consents are recorded in all the 25 QEII covenant agreements and QEII carries out monitoring to ensure compliance and assists the owners with managing the forest.”

The lush lowland forest contains diverse plant communities, despite former logging, due to the altitudinal range from 140 to 530 metres above sea level. It is also habitat to nationally endangered wildlife species including the North Island brown kiwi, the North Island kaka, Hochstetter’s frog and Archey’s frog.

“We’re hoping to see the wildlife populations really soar,” says lot owner Tim Hooson , “as we’ve just received significant funding from the Biodiversity Condition Fund for possum and predator control within the estate, which will be a fantastic boost.”


Possum control reaps rewards

Protected coastal headlandTwelve years ago, neighbouring

farmers, Peter and Margaret S impson a n d Ren We l l s , covenanted a beautiful coastal headland north of Whitianga. “We wanted to protect the landscape from subdivision,” Peter Simpson says, “and make sure it will always be undeveloped.”

The Simpsons covenanted 9ha of the coastline on their farm and another 50ha of native forest on the flanks and summit of Mt Maungatawhiri. Ren Wells covenanted the whole of his 186ha sheep and cattle farm, where he’s

fencing off 30ha of scattered bush remnants. Together, the covenants protect the entire headland separating Simpsons Beach and Whauwhau Bay to the north.

Walking tracks around the headland and up to Mt Maungatawhiri are popular and public access is permitted with prior permission. Continuing a long tradition of informal beachside camping at Simpsons Beach, the Simpsons allow a limited number of campervans on a grassy area beside the beach, which is also used for community activities.

The fores ted prof i le o f Mt Maungatawhiri is a distinctive landmark

in the Whitianga area. It is also the maunga of the local iwi, Ngati Hei, who look towards it from their marae on the headland at the other end of the beach. At the base of the mountain the Akeake Stream estuary, within the Simpson’s covenant, is also significant. Here, visiting waka sought refuge from storms and significant battles were fought against raiding Nga Puhi.

Mt Maungatawhiri is maunga to the Ngati Hei iwi and a valued landscape feature. Kiwi are present and both farms are part of the Kuaotunu Project Kiwi Management Zone.

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Barbara Earnshaw with one of the giant kauris on the covenant that escaped former logging.

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In just five years Barbara and Dick Earnshaw have restored their 42ha possum-damaged south Coromandel forest covenant to good health.

Together with other landowners they formed the community-based Hikuai - Wharekawa Possum Control Scheme and with assistance from Project Crimson, DOC, the Lottery Grants Board and QEII, an intensive ‘knock-down’ programme was carried out in 2000 on the Earnshaw’s and the adjoining 500ha of DOC-owned forest. Since then, the Earnshaws have continued with bait station control and will receive Biodiversity Condition Fund assistance for this in the next two years.

Vigorous kohekohe growth and flowering northern rata (possum favourites) testify to the success of the project. The community control scheme continues to expand and the Earnshaws say local landowners’ combined efforts are paying off with the reduced risk of possums re-invading from neighbouring land.


Pa site protection

A well-preserved pa site at Phillipa Turner’s covenant on the Coromandel’s east coast is benefiting from new fencing. A keen horsewoman, Phillipa is excluding her horses and other heavy stock from the site and will maintain grass cover by periodically grazing sheep.

The hill-top pa site includes two main platforms and a number of terraces, pits and ditches. It is one of three registered QEII covenants protecting pa sites on this coast.

The 1.4ha covenant also includes a stand of unusually large pohutukawa trees and a remnant of coastal forest.

Educational business in the bush

Barry Brickell’s narrow-guage railway through his replanted kauri forest covenant is proving to be a unique - and educational - national and international attraction.

Visitors learn about New Zealand’s ecology and Barry’s vision for restoring the native forest that was damaged or destroyed by former mining and farming endeavours.

A new wildlife sanctuary adjacent will further extend the educational experience. Complete with a lake and wetland, it has already been planted up and is protected under a QEII covenant. The sanctuary is presently seeking funding for a vermin-proof fence.

For more information contact: Driving Creek Railway and Potteries, ph / fax: 07 8668 703

Denize covenants

The pa site is fenced to manage appropriate grazing on the pa site. Remnant coastal forest (middle view) is also covenanted.

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Driving Creek’s new train, the ‘Linx’, emerging from tunnel No1. Rimu, kauri and tanekaha planted approximately 15 years ago are in the background.

Magnificent rata feature in the Denize family’s ridgetop covenant.

The scarce Hochstetter’s frog is from the genus Leiopelma, an ancient genus of frog species regarded as ‘living fossils’.

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Seven QEII covenants registered last year in the northern Coromandel came about when the Denize family subdivided the forested part of their drystock farm.

In total, the covenants protect 138ha of coastal forest, wetland and land of significance to Maori. Mathew Denize says the family exceeded the distr ict counci l ’s protection requirements so that these special areas could be permanently safeguarded.

The three covenants on the remaining Denize land protect 7ha of estuary bordering the Whangapoua Harbour and a 0.6ha pa

site nearby to which Ngati Hei have rights of access. On the ridgeline at the back of the remaining farmland, 5.5ha of covenanted rata / nikau forest is home to the threatened Hochstetter’s frog.

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A QEII property to visit

To visit

• Dunn’s Bush is open to the public all year round.

• Travel 7km northwest of Puhoi village along Ahuroa Road to the start of the walking track.

• For more information contact QEII rep, Rodney Straka: 09 420 4082

Dunn’s BushAt Dunn’s Bush, a 3km trail takes visitors through 96ha of magnificent primary forest and bush remnants to rock outcrops for views out over the Puhoi countryside north of Auckland.

Part of the trail forms a link in the ever-expanding New Zealand-long Te Araroa walking trail aimed for completion in 2008. Val and Arthur Dunn, who gifted the bush to

QEII in 1994, are also planning to covenant more bush and walkway on their sheep and cattle farm next door. They want people to be able to experience first-hand what Arthur proudly calls “real bush” and are delighted that it attracts groups as diverse as tramping clubs, ornithological societies and the Auckland Botanical Society. “It’s also great to see more local families and interested individuals coming as word spreads,” says Val.

Committed conservationists, the Dunns are long-standing members of the local branch of Forest & Bird and received the prestigious Green Ribbon award in 1996 and Queens Service Medals in 2000. Arthur is a driving force behind the Puhoi Landcare Group, which has been highly successful in controlling possums throughout the Puhoi and Waiwera River catchments. He and Val joined with other volunteers this year to prick out 6,000 native plant seedlings for growing on in a nursery on their property. The plants will be used to revegetate riparian margins along the Puhoi River and its tributaries.

Dunn’s Bush contains areas of virgin unlogged podocarp / hardwood forest as well as mature forest that was only lightly logged. Consequently, the flora is rich, with more than 160 recorded species, including a giant kahikatea measuring 1.8m in diameter. The diverse understorey contains the shrub Helichrysum aggregatum, which has a ‘range-restricted’ threatened status and the fern Asplenium hookerianum which is considered rare in Northland.

Val and Arthur Dunn at Dunn’s Bush, which they gifted to QEII.

Rock outcrops provide vantage points where the walking track climbs out of the native forest.

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Dobsonfl y(Approx length 10 - 30 mm)

Stonefl ies(Approx length 6 - 30 mm)

Freshwater shrimp(Approx length 10 - 35 mm)

Leech(Approx length 6 mm)

Snails(Approx length 3 - 12 mm)

New Zealand’s freshwater invertebratesNew Zealand’s streams are home to hundreds of tiny animals that live on and under rocks, water plants or bits of wood lying in the stream. These animals can be very useful indicators of water quality.

Dragonfl y(Approx length 27 mm)

Caddisfl ies(Approx length 5 - 20 mm)

Diving Beetle(Approx length 5 - 10 mm)


Photographs provided by S. Moore, Landcare Research. Background art provided by Environment Waikato.

Mayfl y(Approx length 6 - 20 mm)

Snails(Approx length 3 - 12 mm)

Damselfl y(Approx length 27 mm)

Back swimmer(Approx length 6 mm)

Water surface bug(Approx length 2 - 40 mm) New Zealand has over 200 species of

freshwater macroinvertebrates, meaning animals that have no backbones and can be seen without a magnifying glass or microscope. These animals include insects, crustaceans (for example, freshwater crayfi sh), molluscs (for example, snails), worms, leeches and anemones. They range in size from less than 1mm long to over 10cm long and can often be hard to see at fi rst glance.

They live in a range of environments, from the muddy bottoms of dirty streams to the clean gravely streams of our mountain forests.

In good quality streams, there may be 30 or more different types of macroinvertebrates in one small area. There could be thousands of individuals in just one square metre of streambed. You can usually fi nd large macroinvertebrates such as mayfl ies, stonefl ies, caddisfl ies and crayfi sh in healthy streams, while smaller macroinvertebrates such as worms, midges, snails and leeches can be found in more polluted or muddy streams.

The best way to check out the macroinvertebrates in your stream or pond is to pick up a rock or branch, look closely, and see how many different macroinvertebrates you can find. To obtain copies of the identifi cation poster illustrated, which gives more detail about the types of macroinvertebrates, contact the Limnological Society at www.limsoc.rsnz.org.

Water boatman(Approx length 6 mm)

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Diving Beetle(Approx length 5 - 10 mm)


Rare species

Managing kiwi on private landFrom a population of over 10 million, kiwi numbers have plummeted to less than 70,000 in total and kiwi now occupy only fragments of their historic range. Why are these prehistoric birds – and our national symbol – in such decline?

The simple answer is – predator mammals. Kiwi, along with other of our unique ground-dwelling birds, never had to deal with them. Rats and cats, stoats, weasels and ferrets, pigs and dogs - not to mention hedgehogs - destroy eggs, juveniles and adult kiwi. Add people destroying kiwi habitat for all manner of reasons and long-term kiwi survival looks perilous.

Greg Blunden, Far North QEII rep and co-manager of Aroha Island Ecological Centre, says the key to kiwi survival and enhancement is integrated pest management. “That means taking out the whole range of predators with a combination of traps and poison. Then simply let the birds get on with reproducing in safe conditions.”

Only a few isolated and fragmented populations of kiwi remain on mainland New Zealand - a poor imitation of their distribution before people arrived in Aotearoa. All five species (including two varieties of the tokoeka kiwi) are threatened.

Source: Department of Conservation

No shortage of eggs – so what’s going wrong?Kiwis are remarkably fertile despite being an “aged” population due to the small number of juveniles that have

reached maturity in the last few decades. Each kiwi pair usually produces two eggs twice a year – a rate that should see a ‘baby boom’.

The trouble is, kiwi nests and young are vulnerable in today’s world:

A kiwi chick hatched from an egg taken from Maggie and Bill Bayfield’s property next door to the Schumachers (see page 17) – cute but very vulnerable.

• If a kiwi gets disturbed it will frequently abandon its nest.

• At night, when the male (with sole-charge nursery duty) leaves the nest to feed, predators raid the eggs.

• If some eggs do hatch after 90-odd days of incubation, the chicks are vulnerable to predators and, more often than not, have a very short life.

• In some places, like Kerikeri Peninsula, there is another menace for older chicks – getting run over by a car when they seek their own territory!


Funding boost for Taranaki kiwi

Rare species continuedAs for habitats, many situations suit kiwi. Primary native

bush is terrific, as is coastal scrub. Even dense fields of tobacco weed and gorse, rank kikuyu grass, and pine forests are highly suitable. Food sources, land cover and lack of particular predators are all factors that have allowed kiwi to survive in a wide cross-section of habitat types. In all cases, however, viable kiwi remnant populations are found only in places

where human activity has been lower than average. Community groups and private landowners are now

increasingly involved with kiwi recovery programmes. Private initiatives focused first on peninsulas because, like the offshore island and ‘mainland island’ kiwi projects, they are most easily defended against predators. Now, however, people are attempting to manage smaller mainland blocks as well.

For the North Island Brown Kiwi, this gives some hope outside island sanctuaries. Some remnant populations, often located on private land, are retrievable and QEII covenantors are amongst those helping the species. In the Far North, 60% of QEII open space covenants have kiwi on or near their land.

Naturally shy, a female North Island Brown Kiwi at Aroha Island hurries past when she realises people are close by.

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Further south, kiwi calls are heard in covenants in Taranaki, East Coast and the Coromandel.

For more information about kiwi recovery visit: www.kiwirecovery.org.nz

Karen and Bob Schumacher are thrilled to have received a $70,000 Biodiversity Condition Fund grant for a two-year kiwi predator control programme at their east Taranaki covenant.

The Schumachers bought their 192ha property near Purangi in 2001 to protect the bush, and covenanted 70ha of podocarp forest. Finding kiwi was a bonus. An estimated 10

-15 pair live in the locality.“We’d heard them but had no idea

there were so many until we offered to help the Egmont National Park breeding project,” recalls Karen.

Three of the Purangi kiwi were tagged by expert kiwi caller Sid Marsh and three eggs were located this summer. From these, two chicks are now being reared at Rotorua’s Rainbow Springs centre – one from the Schumachers and

one from their neighbours, Maggie and Bill Bayfield.

Karen says local landowners have been inspired and are already getting much help from the Taranaki Regional Council.

“Between us, we want to restore enough bush to ensure a long-term sustainable kiwi habitat.”

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Karen and Bob Schumacher monitor the movements of the radio-tagged kiwi, Titoko, Maru and Aitken, and note the co-ordinates of their nesting burrows.

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The Schumachers’ covenanted bush includes magnificent tawa festooned with epiphytes.


East Coast covenant protects two threatened bird species

Rare species continued

Battling pests brings back the birdsKukupa too fat to fly, stroppy tui intoxicated on nectar, kiwi strolling around at night.

Ross Patrick’s dream of his own bird sanctuary near Pataua North is coming to fruition.

When he arrived ten years ago Ross saw a single tui and a lone wood pigeon. He embarked on an intense, ongoing “battle” to keep pest numbers low. Now he sees at least 30 of each species and often hears kiwi at night.

Initially Ross used cyanide to knock down the possum population, followed with brodifacoum in bait stations to keep the rat and possum populations low. He also uses fenn traps throughout the bush to catch elusive mustelids. Any increased signs of “vermin” and he’s back out blitzing the invaders.

The steadily increasing bird population and trees heavy with flowers and fruit are irrefutable signs that controlling pests means more birds.

Feeding time for kukupa - Ross lifts protective netting off a small pigeonwood

tree heavily laden with ripe fruit.

The Fisher family is helping to protect habitat for two threatened native bird species. The family’s 16ha QEII bush covenant is home to a

pair of the North Island brown kiwi, a species that is in serious decline, and a number of the nationally endangered North Island weka.

The covenant on the 800ha hill country sheep and cattle farm in the Marumoko valley inland of Gisborne is directly adjacent to the 428ha Whinray Scenic Reserve. Keith Fisher is a founding trustee of the Whinray Ecological Charitable Trust (WECT), which is helping DOC protect biodiversity values in and around the reserve.

Ross Fisher, an active volunteer on the WECT kiwi recovery team, will be helping construct a soon-to-be-built four-hectare kiwi chick enclosure that will protect up to four kiwi chicks at one time. The chicks will be released back into the scenic reserve and covenant area when they obtain the stoat-safe weight of one kilogram.

Keith Fisher admires the new fence around the weka and kiwi habitat covenant.Ph

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Archaeological sites Maori gardens

Kumara pits preserved

From the air, the ditches of the pa site (lower centre) and the clustered kumara pits (top left) on the Hopkins’ farm are clearly seen.

The kumara pits (foreground) are grazed by young dairy animals light enough not to do damage.

The archaeological remains of New Zealand’s first gardens show how Maori successfully adapted tropical Polynesian gardening techniques to New Zealand’s temperate climate.

The modified techniques enabled them to grow some of the plants they brought with them – especially kumara – as far south as Banks Peninsula.

Heat-retaining gravels and sands were added to soils to raise soil temperature and extend the growing season. Fertility was also improved with the addition of gravel, shell, charcoal

and ash. In wetter areas, water was controlled through ditch and drain systems.

Storage pits were a new technique invented to protect food and kumara ‘seed’ stock from cold and wet during winter. Remains of these pits are often found on ridges and terraces above gardens throughout the North Island and the northern South Island.

Source: Archaeological Remains of New Zealand’s First Gardens, NZ Historic Places Trust pamphlet

Well-preserved kumara storage pits have been protected by a QEII covenant on a dairy farm at Maxwell near Wanganui. Twelve large pits are clustered on a low ridge a short distance from the ditches and pits of a small early pa site.

The Hopkins family manage the 112ha property as a replacement dairy stock rearing unit. They decided to covenant the archaeological sites, as well as two native forest remnants, to ensure they would be suitably managed. “There’s a real sense of history, knowing people lived here long ago,” Dave Hopkins says. “We feel an obligation to safeguard it.”

The Hopkins are using young dairy animals to maintain grass cover on the sites. Dave says they monitor the grazing and have found the young stock to be light enough not to trample the earthworks.

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Flammability of native plants Scientists from the New Zealand Forest Research Institute have ranked the flammability of 42 native plants species to assist rural landowners manage fire risk.

Experienced fire managers throughout New Zealand were asked to rank a list of native plant species in the light of their observations at wildfires and prescribed burnoffs under different fire danger conditions. The responses were statistically analysed to produce the final list ranked in five flammability classes.

only one you can control to reduce the risk of wildfire. Vegetation is the main fuel in rural areas so taking steps to reduce its flammability and the intensity of possible fire can help when defending your home, farm assets or covenant. • Create ‘defensible space’ clear

of plant litter, scrub and rank grass around places you want to protect.

• P lant a buffer o f lower flammability species around your ‘defensible spaces’ to reduce fire intensity.

• Use low flammability species as green breaks to buffer against fire risk sources (e.g. along roadsides) or to break up a landscape where flammable plants are plenti ful and continuous.

Source: Flammability of Native Plant Species brochure produced by the New Zealand Forest Research Institute. For more information or copies of the brochure contact: Grant Pearce at NZFRI, 03 364 2949.

What is flammability?Flammability is the

ease with which part or all of a material is ignited. High flammability plants tend to have characteristics that assist fire to spread and to burn so intensely that other less flammable plants may also be affected. Flammable characteristics typically include some or all of:• heavy fuel loads (large

amounts of plant material present) including a high proportion of dead wood and leaves;

• volatile oils;

• low moisture content;

• a continuous structure that encourages fire to travel vertically (i.e. continuous branching from ground level or hanging dead branches or fronds that provide a ladder up to the canopy) or horizontally (i.e. clumps of shrubs or grasses rather than single or widely spaced plants).

Age and situation can also affect flammability. For instance, mature vegetation contains more dead material and this contributes to its available fuel load. Drought-stressed trees will burn more easily than in normal conditions.

Fuel - the one thing you can manage

Of the three main components in a fire environment - weather, topography and fuel - fuel is the

Out of the ashes Some plant species are resistant to fire because they do not easily ignite - they have low flammability. Other species, however, are said to be fire resistant even though they are flammable because they are adapted to regenerate after fire, either by resprouting or reseeding. The cabbage tree Cordyline australis is an example of a species that resprouts after fire.

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Wither Hills, Marlborough, after fire swept through in 2000.


Low flammability speciesFuchsia excorticata Kotukutuku

Pseudopanax crassifolius Horoeka/Lancewood

Pseudopanax arboreus Puahou/Five Finger

Coprosma robusta Karamu

Coprosma grandifolia Raurekau/Kanono

Geniostoma ligustrifolium Hangehange

Coprosma australis Raurekau

Coprosma repens Taupata

Carpodetus serratus Putaputaweta

Corynocarpus laevigatus Karaka

Griselinia littoralis Papauma/Broadleaf

Griselinia lucida Puka

Macropiper excelsum Kawakawa/Peppertree

Solanum aviculare Poroporo

Low/moderate flammability speciesHebe salicifolia and H. stricta Koromiko

Melicytus lanceolatus Mahoe wao

Aristotellia serrata Mako-mako/Wineberry

Coriaria arborea Tutu

Myoporum laetum Ngaio

Pittosporum crassifolium Karo

Pittosporum eugenioides Tarata/Lemonwood

Hoheria spp. Hoheria/Lacebark

Knightia excelsa Rewarewa

Nothofagus menziesii Tawhai/Silver beech

Phyllocladus glaucus Toatoa

Plagianthus regius Manatu/Ribbonwood

Weinmannia racemosa Kamahi

Moderate flammability speciesBeilschmiedia tawa Tawa

Cordyline australis Ti kouka/Cabbage tree

Pittosporum tenuifolium Kohuhu

Dacrydium cupressinum Rimu

Metrosideros umbellata Southern rata

Agathis australis Kauri

Phormium spp. Flax

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides Kahikatea/White pine

Weinmannia silvicola Tawhero/Towhai

Moderate/high flammability speciesPodocarpus totara Totara

Dodonaea viscosa Ake-ake

Cyathea and Dicksonia spp. Tree ferns

Cyathodes fasciculata Mingimingi

High flammability speciesKunzea ericoides Kanuka

Leptospermum scoparium Manuka

Classes

• Low: Suitable for green breaks or defensible space, but when in the immediate vicinity of structures, there should be at least a 3-4m break between the crowns to reduce fuel continuity.

• Low/Moderate: Not recommended for planting in green breaks. If planted in defensible space, elevated dead material and litter should be removed regularly, greater than 4m should be left between tree crowns, and trees or shrubs in this category should not be within 10m of structures.

• Moderate: Most of these species produce heavy accumulations of flammable litter and elevated dead material, and/or have flammable green foliage. Not recommended for green breaks or for planting in defensible space.

• Moderate/High: Species may have flammable green foliage and/or produce high levels of litter and elevated fuel. Not recommended for green breaks or defensible space.

• High: Burn readily at low/moderate forest fire danger conditions.

The combination of volatile oil in the wood and dead material under the canopy makes manuka and kanuka highly flammable.

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Trust People

New Year Honour QEII life member, Neil Hayes,

was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for Community Service in the New Year Honours. Neil has contributed hugely to the recovery programme for the rare and critically endangered New Zealand brown teal. He has studied brown teal for more than 30 years, written manuals on their management and advocated the urgent need for their protection. He developed a highly successful ‘natural pairing’ technique for teal breeding in captivity, a technique now used world-wide in waterfowl recovery programmes. He and his wife Sylvia have a QEII covenant over the ‘Gretel Lagoons’ wetland they created at their home in the Wairarapa.

Two new positions have been created to boost technical and scientific knowledge for the Trust. Kathryn and Stuart are both based in the Wellington office.

Neil Hayes with one of the endangered brown teal he has worked to protect.

Kathryn Whaley, Technical Officer Biodiversity

Kathryn is a plant ecologist with experience in biodiversity research, a s s e s s m e n t a n d management. She worked at Landcare Research for six years assessing and monitoring natural areas, contributing to revegetation trials and a range of research programmes, before moving to the Auckland Regional Council’s biosecurity unit, where she helped develop and implement animal and pest plant management initiatives. Most recently, she worked at DOC, contributing to the implementation of the Biosecurity Strategy and the development and implementation of biosecurity policy.

Stuart Kilmister, Technical Officer Biodiversity

Stu brings to QEII considerable practical experience in animal and plant pest control. He started out as an assistant park ranger for Greater Wellington a t Ka i toke Regional Park and later shifted over to the Wairarapa to work on bovine TB vector control. Moving to DOC, he worked at the

Motukaraka nursery and then carried out weed control on offshore sanctuaries such as Raoul, Kapiti and Mangere Islands as well as mainland areas in Kapiti and the Horowhenua. For the past five years he has managed weed and pest control as well as park development for the Porirua City Council.


Our regional representatives QEII regional reps come from a diverse range of backgrounds. They combine their part-time QEII roles with other activities in the rural and conservation sectors and collectively represent a great resource of knowledge and experience. (For contact details refer to page 2.)

Far North, Dr Greg Blunden: co-manages Aroha Island with Gay Blunden and owns a 90ha QEII covenant. Convenor of NZ Kiwi Foundation. Specialises in biodiversity management and land use change.

Mid Northland, Nan Pullman: jointly runs small beef farm, two teenagers and a freelance photography/journalism company with husband. Likes getting involved in local conservation projects.

North Auckland, Rodney Straka: consultant ecologist experienced in ecological restoration, parks and rural land management. Co-manages the family farm, including a QEII forest covenant.

South Auckland, Rex Smith: runs a property management consultancy. Formerly worked for Lands and Survey, acquiring land for reserve purposes.

Coromandel-Hauraki, Hamish Kendal: contract ecologist experienced in threatened species monitoring and pest management. Also undertakes ecological assessments for subdivisions.

Waikato, Hamish Dean: ecologist and former consultant in the central North Island. Runs a part-time revegetation / restoration service with his father.

Wai tomo -Otorohanga , Ma l co lm Mackenzie: former farm advisor and forest manager. Active member of Farm Forestry Association. Runs farm/forestry unit with his wife.

Bay of Plenty, Stephen Hall: ecologist, extensive knowledge of the region from former consulting work and role as Bio-diversity Co-ordinator for Environment Bay of Plenty. Outdoor recreation enthusiast.

Gisborne, Malcolm Piper: farms sheep and cattle with wife on small block after retiring from hill country farm. Enjoys seeing today’s young farmers caring for the environment.

Taranaki, Neil Phillips: dairy farmer in partnership with wife. Previously ranger at Nelson Lakes and Egmont National Parks. Outdoor recreation enthusiast.

Wanganui, Rachel Stewart: former provincial president of Wanganui Federated Farmers, and farm cadet trainer. Now runs small farm. Strong interest in rural affairs.

Hawkes Bay, Marie Taylor: trained in horticultural science. Part-time rural journalist with Country-wide newspaper. Grows native plants to revegetate home property where she has a QEII covenant.

Manawatu-Horowhenua-Rangitikei-Tararua, Peter van Essen: forest ecologist at Massey University, active in native forest restoration projects. Has a 60ha farm forestry property.

Wairarapa, David Marsh: farmer and former soil conservator, worked for Federated Farmers and the East Coast Rural Support Trust, farms sheep and beef near Martinborough where he has a QEII covenant.

Wellington, Tim Park: ecologist and part-time biodiversity co-ordinator with Kapiti Coast District Council. Interests include native plant and weed ecology, and geomorphology.

Nelson-Marlborough, Philip Lissaman: agricultural science/ farm management/resource management background. Was QEII Field Manager for 20 years. Long-standing interest in private conservation.

West Coast, Ian James: forest ecologist, ex-farmer and miner. Previously owned kayak and boat tour business with partner Debbie at Okarito Lagoon where they led the campaign to protect the local wetlands.

Canterbury, Miles Giller: runs a nursery with wife producing native and exotic plants. Has a particular interest in Canterbury’s small-leaved shrubs, which feature in their ecologically based garden.

High Country South Island, Dr Brian Molloy: botanist and Landcare Research Scientist, well known for his knowledge of native flora and advocacy for its protection.

Coastal Otago, Rebecca Reid: formerly with DOC and the Otago / Southland NZ Historic Places Trust. Experienced in conservation and heritage management. Is restoring remnant bush on home property.

Waiau Catchment, Mark Sutton: runs field operations of the Waiau Fisheries and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Trust. Former field officer with Southland Fish and Game.

Southland, Gay Munro: runs a 303ha sheep farm with husband Ron. Has two QEII wetland covenants. Enjoys helping landowners and community groups with conservation projects.


Recently registered covenantsA summary of covenants registered from 1 October 2004 to 31 January 2005.

Covenantor Area(ha)

Open spacetype

District Council

Adams 2.7 F Far North

Landcorp Farming Limited 14.8 F Far North

Lane 5.3 F Far North

Nesbit & Neeley 7.7 F Far North

Turanga Estate Limited 0.4 W Far North

Dudin 1.2 F Whangarei

F & G Farms Limited 3.1 F Whangarei

Kippenberger & Urbahn 2.0 F Whangarei

Lamb 3.8 F Whangarei

Lamb 4.1 F Whangarei

McLean 32.8 F Whangarei

Ross 2.0 W Whangarei

Ross 5.1 W Whangarei

Sandy Bay Farms Limited 3.8 F Whangarei

Drinnan 9.2 F Kaipara

McLeod 14.2 F Kaipara

Southern 14.3 F Rodney

Bladon-Moss 2.5 F W Whakatane

Ellmers 7.0 F S Gisborne

Denize & Williams 3.5 F Thames-Coromandel

Denize & Williams 82.4 F Thames-Coromandel

Betschart 8.0 S Waipa

Livingston 4.0 F Waipa

Jones 1.3 W Otorohanga

Kaipikari Farm Limited 63.8 F New Plymouth

Taranaki Regional Council 3.7 Ga New Plymouth

Taranaki Regional Council 4.5 Ga South Taranaki

Wallace & Mulholland 2.6 F South Taranaki

Bulled 31.1 F Hastings

Nelson, Harper & Goldstone 2.5 S Hastings

Croad & Taylor 1.9 F S A Napier City

August, Ritchie & Dicks 2.5 F Central Hawke’s Bay

Dicks, Hames & Wynne-Lewis 15.0 S Central Hawke’s Bay

Foster, Rockel & Pickett 6.6 F Central Hawke’s Bay

Hart 10.1 F Central Hawke’s Bay

Covenantor Area(ha)

Open spacetype

District Council

Jones 1.6 F Wanganui

Rennie 41.4 F Rangitikei

Ahradsen 23.0 F Tararua

Miles & Todd Whitehouse Trustees

0.4 F Horowhenua

Le Grove & Levy 4.7 F Masterton

Maunsell, Kershaw & Wylie 4.7 F Masterton

Wyeth & Gawith Trustees 3.1 W Masterton

Marsh & Woodhouse Trustees 3.7 F South Wairarapa

Handyside, Delatour & Kershaw 9.8 F Ge W South Wairarapa

Alexander & Darke 1.6 F Kapiti Coast

Bloomfield 0.6 F Kapiti Coast

Kapiti Coast District Council 2.5 F Kapiti Coast

Milne 0.9 F Kapiti Coast

Oakley 0.2 F Kapiti Coast

Jacobson & Muir 0.2 W Porirua



Warren 16.0 F Wellington

Cameron & Blanchet 4.9 F Tasman

Davis 1.7 W S Tasman

Pohuenui Nature Resort 30.4 F S Marlborough

Boyd 1.2 F Kaikoura

Homewood Hill Limited 0.6 F Kaikoura

Handyside 39.0 F Hurunui

Chambers 1.6 F Banks Peninsula

Tripp 0.6 F Banks Peninsula

Landcorp Farming Limited 619.1 F Greymouth

Wilson 1.5 F Greymouth

Hood 0.9 S Ashburton

Burnett & another 19.3 F S G Ge Waitaki

Ruthven 1.3 G Waitaki

Thurlow & Macassey 1.5 F Waitaki

Anderson & others 0.3 F Clutha

MacKenzie, McCartney & Jasica 0.5 F Southland

Pullen & Logan 6.1 F W Southland

Riddell 14.0 F S Southland

Sinclair 9.2 S Southland

Key: W Wetland G Grassland S Shrubland F Forest

Ge Geological feature A Archaeological feature Ga Garden / arboretum


Fragments

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Recent publications

Our Islands, Our Selves, A History of Conservation in New Zealand, by David Young

- The story of how and why a conservation ethic emerged in New Zealand; the people and organisations involved, and changing approaches to conservation. Available from most booksellers.

Protecting Natural Areas Design Guide, Nature Heritage Fund

- An easy-to-use booklet, clearly illustrated, with practical gu idance about how to achieve sustainable protection. Available from the Nature Heritage Fund, $5 / copy, PO Box 10-420, Wellington

Wetland Types of New Zealand, Peter Johnson & Phil ippe Gerbeaux

- A useful and very well illustrated guide to classifying wetland types and understanding how they work. Available at or can be ordered through most booksellers.

Gifts and bequestsQEII is helped greatly by money or assets gifted in people’s wills or in their lifetimes.

You may wish to support the Trust’s work in general or help the Trust protect a special place or species.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of contributing to QEII by gift or bequest, please phone CEO Margaret McKee at Freephone 0508 732 878.

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Order Form

Please post your order form to QEII National Trust, PO Box 3341, Wellington or Fax to 04 472 5578 or Phone 04 472 6626

Things to buyQEII Swanndri® VestA high-quality merino wool vest, embroidered with the QEII logo.

Price: $165 including GST and postage (Navy only)

Sizes available: S M L XL 2XL 3XLChest (cm) 94 99 104 114 124 134Waist (cm) 80 85 90 100 110 120

QEII Greetings CardPack of 10 cards with envelopes. Inside of card is blank.

Price: $30 including GST and postage


Ideal GiftQEII National Trust Membership

Ideal GiftQEII National Trust Membership

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❑ Individual $30 ❑ Family $45 ❑ Life $550

❑ Corporate – business (on application)

❑ Corporate – non profit organisation $50

Donation – optional (tick box): Donations over $5.00 are tax deductible

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QEII is always in need of greater financial and moral support for its work. You can help by joining as a member. Members receive:

• A year’s subscription to our magazine Open Space – three issues a year.

• Free entrance to properties owned or administered by the following organisations: The National Trust (UK), National Trust for Scotland, National Trust of Australia (all states), Barbados National Trust, Bermuda National Trust, National

How your covenant helps New Zealand

Many plants, animals and landscapes found in New Zealand are unique to this country. Their uniqueness helps set us apart and define us as a nation. Unfortunately, many of these species and features are under threat. The decreasing diversity of our indigenous flora and fauna is regarded as one of our biggest environmental problems.

While there is a network of publicly owned conservation areas, the vast majority (70%) of New Zealand’s land remains in private ownership. Many habitats and features are found only in these areas. They can only be protected with the goodwill and action of landowners.

Practical land management and farm productivity

Many farmers are motivated to protect natural features because it makes good land management sense. Bush and wetlands help filter rain and runoff ensuring water quality. They encourage recycling of nutrients and reduce soil erosion. Forest remnants reduce wind, and provide shelter and shade, enhancing stock management and production. Fencing areas not only allows the regeneration of the bush, but also helps protect stream banks, water quality and keeps stock out of hard to manage areas. Healthy bush and natural landscapes beautify and add economic value to farm properties.

Trust for Fiji, Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, Gibraltar Heritage Trust, Japan National Trust, National Trust for Zimbabwe.

• Entitlement to nominate and vote two members onto the QEII National Trust Board of Directors.

QEII covenantors become members automatically.

Please fill out this membership application form and send it to: QEII National Trust, PO Box 3341, Wellington or Free-phone 0508 732 878.

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QEII National Trust Membership Application

About QEII open space covenants

Membership runs from 1 July to 30 June. New memberships after 31 March will come due for renewal 30 June the following year.


What is a QEII open space covenant?A covenant is a legally binding protection agreement

which is registered on the title of the land. It is voluntary but once in place binds the current and all subsequent landowners. Private property rights are not jeopardised - the landowner retains ownership and management of the land. Visitor access is available only with the landowner’s prior permission.

Each covenant is unique. It can apply to the whole property or just part of the property. There can be different management areas within a covenant with varying applicable conditions. Conditions can be stringent where rare or vulnerable natural features or habitats are being protected.

Open space covenants are generally in perpetuity though there can be a case for a variable term covenant. These include: Kawenata, on Maori land, which recognises tino rangatiratanga, and Life of the Trees where individual trees occur in a situation where they may not be self-regenerating. Landscape protection agreements are used where the land does not have title, such as roadside areas.

The average covenant size is around 35 hectares, the largest is over 6,500 hectares. There are currently over 2,500 registered and approved covenants extending from the Far North to Stewart Island from sea level to above the bush line.

Managing an open space covenant QEII helps landowners with ongoing management

advice and support. A management plan may be prepared with the landowner when a covenant is established, which sets out ongoing management objectives and provides guidance on such aspects as species management, pest control and restoration methods.

Each covenant is visited regularly, usually every 2 years, to monitor its condition and trends, identify and address any threats, and advise the owner about how to meet the covenant objectives.

Helping you protect the special nature of your land

How to covenant your special areaIf you wish to protect a special area on your property,

the following steps are typically needed to gain a QEII open space covenant.

• Enquiry. Ask your region’s QEII representative (see inside front cover) to visit your property.

• Evaluation. The QEII representative will evaluate your special area against a wide range of criteria including: ecological and biodiversity value, naturalness, sustainability, existing or potential value as an ecological corridor, wildlife, geological features, landscape values, cultural and heritage values. There will also be practical considerations including: management needs, threats to site values, your motivation and potential sources of funding.

• Approval. The QEII Trust Board will consider the evaluation, and approve the covenant if it meets the criteria. You will then be asked to sign a covenant agreement.

• Fencing. If required, the covenant area will have to be fenced next.

• Survey. An accurate survey plan or aerial photodiagram of the covenant area will be prepared, which you will need to check and sign.

• Registration. The covenant will then be formally registered on the title of your land with Land Information New Zealand. QEII will lodge all the necessary documentation.

Funding assistance You may be eligible for assistance in funding your QEII

open space covenant in a number of ways:

• Fencing costs • Rates relief

• Weed and pest control • Restoration planting.

Your QEII representative will be able to advise you about possible sources of funding.

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Distribution of QEII covenantsAs at 1 February 2005, there were 2,029 registered open space covenants covering 70,125 hectares. In addition, there were a further 539 approved covenants covering 16,576 hectares, awaiting registration. The regional breakdown based on Regional Council boundaries is as follows.

Note: the symbols on the map indicate location only and do

not represent the actual area of covenanted land.

Legend

Registered covenants

Approved covenants

QEII owned properties

Mostly private land

Public conservation land

Regional Council

Total land area in the region (ha)

No. of registered covenants

No. of approved covenants

Total area registered

& approved (ha)

Largest registered

covenant in region (ha)

Average covenant size (ha)

Northland 1,250,000 307 58 6,396 417 17.5Auckland 500,000 160 26 3,175 841 17.1Waikato 2,500,000 315 88 12,687 645 31.5Bay of Plenty 1,223,100 118 15 10,028 6,564 75.4Gisborne 826,500 72 24 3,363 1,104 35.0Taranaki 723,600 110 32 2,842 334 20.0Hawke’s Bay 1,420,000 115 56 9,150 4,606 53.5Horizons 2,221,500 196 41 5,219 276 22.9Wellington 813,000 167 69 5,416 824 22.9Tasman 978,600 72 18 1,586 642 17.6Nelson 42,100 10 2 445 145 37.1Marlborough 1,049,500 24 9 1,335 172 40.5West Coast 2,300,000 16 7 1,485 619 64.6Canterbury 4,220,000 144 32 10,306 1,679 58.5Otago 3,200,000 81 34 10,042 2,735 87.3Southland 3,035,500 122 28 3,226 214 21.5Totals 26,303,400 2,029 539 86,701

Documents

Marlborough and Coromandel Covenants • Rare Species: Kiwi · 2018. 4. 2. · of Te Runanga O Kaikoura, leaders of Rangitane, and representatives of the Marlborough District Council,